Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : New Look

Throwback dresses with New Look

Every girl has a dress in their wardrobe that they can rely on for any occasion. I have lots of favourite dresses from my trusty little red dress for nights out to my little pink dress for the summer. Although I regard many dresses in my wardrobe highly, my favourite dress has to be this little printed number Fashion Union.

From the moment I slipped it on I knew this would be a firm contender for my everyday outfit planning. The dress fits like a dream and exhibits a 60s style vibe that I truly adore. The pattern is wonderful and the colours are striking, yet subtle. When I uploaded this image to my social media, it caused a frenzy with my friends, many asking where to buy it. A few months later and I am still getting compliments about this little beauty.

New Look have launched their latest blogger campaign which focuses around the search for a new perfect dress and after hours of browsing through their gorgeous collection, I decided to pick this one up. The pattern is gorgeous and summery and the off the shoulder cut is delicate and feminine. Yet again, this dress (link*) features a vintage style floral pattern and the pink hues that run throughout the garment echo the feel of spring. Unfortunately I doubt this will turn into one of my throwback dresses as this dress accentuates my hips slightly too much, but for a summer holiday dress - this is absolutely perfect.

What is your favourite dress?

The hype of London Fashion Week is gradually dying down and we are all looking towards spring for our next fashion inspiration. Many people look at Fashion Week as just a series of fashion shows and a prestigious event in which celebrities attend, but there are so many things people often forget. If it wasn't for fashion week, the designs we see in the stores - high street and high end would cease to exist. Fashion Weeks are a platform in which buyers can go invest in upcoming trends and supply us, the consumers with fresh, new inspiring clothing that will get us from season to season. This post is inspired by one of my favourite designers Orla Kiely. Just over two years ago, I entered a competition that popped up on Twitter to win an Orla Kiely handbag. Admittedly I knew nothing about the designer at the time, but the handbag looked wonderful and was priced at £500 - who wouldn't want to win a brand new, expensive handbag? Luckily for me, I won the handbag and with the handbag, came my new love for Orla Kiely.

I began researching more about the designer and found out her style is really feminine and evokes a vintage vibe - two things I look for when picking my day to day clothing. Her intricate use of fabrics and patterns excites me and I love how each collection tells a story. The pastel colours featured in the Spring/Summer 2014 have been my favourite Orla Kiely designs so far and today, I thought I would show you a little outfit I created with inspiration deriving from the Orla Kiely collection.

From the age of approximately 12 years old, I have always shopped in New Look*. It is a great way of getting affordable, quality fashion and they always have at least one item that grabs my attention in store. I find their heels exceptionally comfy and all my favourite pairs of jeans come from New Look. As I currently do not have the biggest clothing budget, I turned to one of my favourite, trusted stores to search for an outfit similar to those featured in the Orla Kiely S/S collection and was amazed by how many similar items I found. This outfit consists of this lovely floral print 'Boxy T-Shirt' at £14.99, the 'Pink Crepe A-line Mini Skirt' at £14.99 again, the tan handbag - which is the first item I really want to buy, which is priced at £24.99 and finally the 'Nude Patent Court Shoes' at £14.99. That is a designer duplicate outfit at less than £60 and even cheaper if you have student discount. I honestly cannot wait until payday.

What items are you looking to buy in the near future?

It is typical that when I've gone on a spending limit, a new trend pops up that makes me want to buy lots of new clothes. It always happens. It's like when you have no money, you want everything and when you're rich and it's payday there's nothing left in the shops. It happens to the best of us.

I'm currently dreaming of everything pastel in my wardrobe. The soft pinks, subtle turquoises and baby blues are swaying me towards the clothing rails and right now, my willpower is weak. The shops are full of soft fabrics, cashmere jumpers and pleather jackets in the most wonderful variety of colours.

The best thing about my blog is being able to write about these products and get everything off my chest. This is the reason behind my 'Pretty in Pastels' post today. The first item I would love to own is this baby pink blazer from New Look. I shop in New Look rather frequently, in all fairness I should probably get loyalty discount with the amount of time and money I've spent in there. They just seem to get everything right each month with affordable prices. It's great for a quick fashion fix when you have very little money and that's why most of my time is spent there.

My next wish list item are a pair of bleached denim leggings from Topshop. I love Topshop leggings as they are probably the comfiest ones I've ever owned and everytime I need a new pair, it's the first place I go. Unfortunately my last pair of leggings similar to them got caught up in one of my mums washing machine disasters and ended up with bright pink splodges over them.

When I walked into River Island the other day, this light turquoise jumper was the first to grab my attention. The necklace detailing is beautiful and the texture is really light and soft. This jumper is a little bit out of my price range right now, but I'll be keeping an eye on it for a later date.

Finally, it's very rare that I ever do a wishlist post without mentioning Kurt Geiger and here they are again with mention to their pastel pink court shoes. I have always been a Kurt Geiger girl and always will be. Their quality, customer services and timeless designs keep drawing me back and I can guarantee if anything is going to break my spending limit it would be a sale at KG.

What do you think of pastels?

Camouflage is currently all over the high street, taking a turn from the brass button formal military jackets to frontline uniforms. This autumn and winter sees an array of green and black camouflage gear bracing the clothing rails as well as a variety chunky boots to get you through what could potentially be a cold and snowy season. The military trend is something that I've always looked at on other people and thought it looks edgy and cool, yet I probably wouldn't be able to pull it off. I have an envy over those who can sling on a camo jacket, flick down their long brunette locks and look instantly like a catalogue model, when I wear camouflage gear I look rather frumpy. My favourite part of the army gear type clothing is being able to wear really thick, hard wearing boots like the Magnum boots shown above. When it comes to the winter season, I love being able to wear my walking boots through the snow and it to actually look rather trendy. I've paired up these sturdy pair of Magnum women's boots* with the pencil skirt and top duo from New Look, creating a feminine yet grungy appealing outfit.

If you don't feel like going too full on camouflage, you can easily incorporate the style into your outfit with a pair of camo print shoes like these from Topshop or you can always team up a pair of basic leather trousers with a camo crop top. There are many ways of introducing camouflage into your wardrobe, without you looking too much like a tomboy - unless that's the look you're personally going for.

What do you think of the Camouflage trend?

Around the UK there are rumours that the snow is upon us. It was supposed to happen this week in the North West, but we had a lucky escape. This has got me thinking about what outfits i'll be wearing to keep warm this winter and more importantly, the shoes that will keep me safe from the cold, slippery weather.

When it comes to winter shoes I like something that is sturdy and will keep me from slipping on the ice. Falling over in the winter weather is one of my biggest fears since I fell over ice-skating and damaged the cartilage in knee. Since that day my knee has overgone surgery, physio and unfortunately now has arthritis so I will do anything to prevent further injuries. Just because you need to cover up a little bit more and wear winter boots, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to be unfashionable. There are plenty of quirky boots on the market and wellies aren't the boring shade of green they used to be years ago. There are plenty of shoes out there to whet your fashion appetite and one brand in particular, Brantano has a good quite a good selection.

The first outfit I've chosen screams warmth with the snuggly fur top boots from Brantano and the suede coloured Sheepskin waterfall jacket from Topshop. At a pricey £595 for this beauty, it's unlikely that I'll be buying it this winter, but for those who have the money to splash out it looks like a fantastic, versatile piece for your wardrobe. The skinny jeans are yet again from Topshop and they come in a variety of colours. My favourite colour of skinny jeans at the moment has to be the plum red shades that are taking over the high street. They have the ability to look sophisticated and classy and they make a great alternative to the regular black and blue colours.

My next outfit features this wonderful silk blouse from Miss Selfridge, boots yet again from *Brantano and a comfy pair of leggings from New Look. I've got a little bit of an obsession with high calf boots, because if you find a pair that fits properly they can give the illusion of slimmer, taller legs - just like heels. The other two items are from two shops that I spend a considerable amount of time in and I can't get wait to get my hands on those leggings after payday.

What do you think of my outfit wish lists?

At the moment I'm really obsessed with adding more leather to my wardrobe and channelling my inner rock chick. There are so many pieces on the high street that evoke the rock'n'roll vibe and look on trend this autumn. Since I'm trying to save money until December, I've decided to show you my current wish list and see what you think of the items I'm currently lusting over. The first item I would love to buy is the Hatched Horses Shirt by French Connection. I came across the website Divine Trash when I was searching for French Connection stockists and this was the first item to grab my attention. The beautiful print would look great all year round and teamed up with the leather pants from Topshop, it would make a fabulous indie style outfit. The earrings are from one of my favourite jewellery boutiques Bijoux Bazaar, a brand that I featured many times on my blog and the handbag is another French Connection beauty which is currently on sale for half the price on the Divine Trash website.

My second outfit is more of a glam evening style arrangement and I would love to wear something similar to this outfit during winter. This season there's a lot of skater inspired dresses about and ones that frequently combine the skater and leather trend. This dress is the Solar Panel dress from French Connection online. The dress has a structured body and incorporates leather into the body panel and pleated skirt. If you haven't read my blog before, it would come as no surprise after reading this post that I'm a massive French Connection fan as I love how their dresses fit me effortlessly, that their outfits always look timeless and the fact that every season they bring out clothes that I easily fall in love with. We all have a brand that we really admire and French Connection has always been rated highly in my fashion stakes. I would complete this outfit by adding the sexy, sophisticated heeled boots from New Look, then teaming the entire look with the Miss Selfridge clutch bag and I would finally add the eagle necklace featured on the Divine Trash* website.

What do you think of these outfits?

New Look is the first store I remember shopping in when I was a little girl. Being an only child, I admit that I was rather spoilt and every odd month my dad would give my mum a fair bit of money to take me on a mini shopping spree. I always remember that my first choice of clothing store was New Look. I was fascinated by all the styles and always regarded them as the trendiest shop around. I was a rather big child and the fact that I was in adult clothing way before I should have been meant that I struggled finding clothes that appealed to a younger girl and covered me up so that I didn't look too old for my age. New Look was always the balance that I desired. The clothing was and still is very trendy and fun, but also has a mixture of clothing for those wanting to look more sophisticated and demure. Since I was 12 years old I've been a loyal customer of New Look and ever since I got my first job, I think at least £50 of my monthly wage has been spent here.

The other day I was walking to work and the weather took a turn for the worst. I was wearing a crop top and disco pants with my glittery jacket and totally unprepared for the cold chill that flew through the air. I quickly nipped into New Look looking for a jumper and returned with this quirky item. I love the wooly sheep design and the fabric is really soft and warming. I had quite a few funny comments made whilst working behind the bar wearing this and since I brought it home, I've barely been out of it. At £17.99 with student discount it's a fantastic price. Coming up to payday I couldn't quite afford the prices of Topshop and River Island, therefore New Look becomes my go-to store.

This autumn New Look has a fantastic range of clothing and if I was let loose with a handful of cash, I'd probably buy everything. There's everything that's on trend at the moment, as well as some cool, quirky pieces that really exhibit the New Look house style. So far I'm lusting after a pair of knee high riding boots for the winter, some thermal leggings to keep me warm, a classic green parka jacket and for some reason, I've become obsessed with American style jersey tops.

What would you like to buy from New Look?

For months I have dreamt of owning a pair of chelsea boots. I'm very selective when it comes to shoes and the majority of my wardrobe are high heels, however there's something about chelsea boots that I love. Maybe it's their versatility and the ability to go with a range of outfits or the fact that they look more sophisticated than the average bootie. Whatever the reasons, I've longed for a pair of Chelsea boots and thanks to Debenhams I now own a pair. I've been sent a pair of the Betty Jackson High Chelsea boots to help me complete a styling challenge. I've been asked to take one pair of shoes and style them three different ways with various outfits. As a young girl playing with barbie, I always envisioned myself as a stylist. As an adult, I spend most of my days reading Elle magazine and trying to decide which clothes would complete my wardrobe. Doing the styling challenge was complete fun and I loved messing around with my wardrobe.

Outfit One: Party style

Leather, velvet and grunge fashion is all about the high street right now. I decided to team these chelsea boots with my beautiful crushed velvet Topshop shorts, New Look crop top and my old River Island biker jacket to create a casual club style outfit. I'm all about unleashing my inner rock chick and these boots are a great alternative to heels or studded biker boots.

Outfit Two: Cocktail Hour

Outfit number two is something a little bit more formal, yet edgy - the feeling the Chelsea boots first evoked when I saw them. I'm wearing a white blouse from River Island and a leather pencil skirt. This would be great for someone who works in a creative environment that likes to dress on trend or mid week cocktails with the girls.

Outfit 3: Casual Office Wear

My final outfit is casual office wear. This dress from F&F at Tesco is very versatile like the Chelsea boots and can be easily dressed up or down. Teamed with a pair of black tights, this would be a great alternative to a black dress for a formal, yet slightly casual workforce.

The Betty Jackson Chelsea boots are available at Debenhams at £75.

What do you think of these outfits?

I've been a little bit obsessed with the mono chrome trend recently, but currently lack funds to be able to buy anything. Instead I have plummeted into a dream world, creating mini mood boards for when I finally get paid. When I saw the Kissing is Cool T-Shirt from New Love Club, I knew I wanted to try create an edgy, minimalist Valentines day outfit and here's what I came up with.

T-Shirt: New Love Club £25.00

The T-shirt is by a brand called New Love Club that was founded in 2009. The brand is distributed throughout stores such as: Selfridges, Topshop and ASOS, bringing you affordable yet edgy photography styled t-shirt designs. The slogan "Kissing is Cool" would be a great tongue in cheek motto for Valentines Day and great for those wanting to rock the grunge look. The t-shirt is also unisex and great for your man to wear.

Blazer: River Island £45

I'm in love with white blazers at the moment and would do anything to get my hands on this beautiful River Island design. The blazer is very minimalist and would go great with any outfit. Black and white are totally on trend right now, so team it up with a skinny black vest and disco pants for a sexy, slimline look.

Disco Pants: TopShop £30

TopShop have so many amazing items right now and what's better is that they offer a really friendly student discount. Finally, something that I might be able to afford. These disco pants are striking and figure hugging, perfect for those wanting to exhibit their curves this valentines day.

Wedges: New Look £24.99

Stumbling over in front of your partner wearing six inch stilettos isn't the best look, so for those who are height conscious and need a mini boost this Valentines day, why not opt for wedges? Comfortable and stylish, you will easily be able to dance the night away. I love New Look for shoes, because they are affordable and have so many amazing designs. These wedges are the ones that I'm currently lusting for.

Hat: TopShop £20

I have recently become obsessed with hats and I don't know why. A few months ago, I would have said that hats make my head look big or that I wouldn't suit any hat in store. I can't get enough of them at the moment. There are so many styles to choose from and this little cream banded trilby would look great for someone trying to channel their inner rock'n'roll style.

What do you think of my outfit styling?

2012 is supposed to be my year of saving, not splurging and to control my spending habits, I have created a beautiful wish list. Hopefully in creating my wish list, it will point me towards the items I would actually like to buy, rather than impulse buying, but I can't make any promises on that front. I also hope to save at least £1000 of my University loan, so that in the future it can be invested into work experience or something career related. This University year so far, I've already managed to save £500, so I'm hoping I'll be a good student in 2012.

Going back to the wish list, the items I have chosen are classic pieces that I'm sure will look brilliant in my wardrobe for the next few years, providing I don't gain or lose too much weight.

The first item I would very much like is this coat from Urban Outfitters. This is a timeless design that very much reminds me of the 1940s. I'm obsessed with old Hollywood actresses and I could really imagine seeing this coat. The fur cuffs and neck trim make this coat all snuggly and warm and provide a vintage-esque appeal. At £135, this coat isn't exactly cheap, but I'm sure it will remain in my wardrobe for years to come.

In 2011 I lost almost six stone and reinvented myself. The only bad thing about this experience is renewing my wardrobe. It is every girls dream of shopping once you have lost a lot of weight, but it can be quite pricy in the long run. Ever since I started my weight loss, I told myself I would treat myself to some lovely expensive underwear once I had lost the weight and I've always wanted to try the 'Agent Provocateur' brand. I can now say that I have purchased some underwear in the sales and it's making it's way to me as I speak and I'll be doing a review once it arrives.

I have to say that as of late, New Look have really upped their game in the shoe department and not only do they create beautiful shoes, they are really comfy too! I would love to buy these shoes from New Look as they so elegant and have a beautiful Christian Louboutin style. These babies are £59.99, but on the plus side, I can get student discount...

White is such a classic colour and admittedly, I barely own anything that is cream or white, so this dress would be perfect. Every dream dreams of having a Marilyn Monroe moment and this dress could be the one for me. I have many dresses in this style, so I know that it will suit me. This dress is from River Island and it's £35.

I know these days it seems that every girl and her dog has a Louis Vuitton handbag, but the design is classic, the handbags are beautifully made and to be honest, it is something I could see me using on a regular basis. This April will be my 21st birthday, so I'm hoping to treat myself to this beautiful bag with my birthday money and savings.

I'm currently on a make-up ban after realising my collection is taking over my bedroom. I still have many items left to blog about and i'll probably do a collection post very soon.

What's in your 2012 wish list?

Forevermissvanity

♥

Throwback dresses with New Look

Step into Spring

Pretty in Pastels

Camouflage it!

These Boots are Made for Walking

Kickstart My Heart: Divine Trash

Autumn at New Look

One Pair of Shoes - 3 Outfits

Monochrome

♥ 2012 Wishlist ♥